Utility knife

Abstract

A utility knife include a handle, a neck pivotally mounted on the handle, and a blade mounted in the neck. The neck can be folded into the handle to transport the utility knife. The blade is slidably removably inserted into and from the handle without requiring disassembly of the handle.

1 . A utility knife including 
 a handle having a first end and a second end;    a neck having: 
 a distal end,  
   a proximate end, 
 a longitudinal axis, and  
 a first edge and a second edge;  
   an aperture formed in said distal end of said neck;    a blade of uniform thickness with a reduced thickness edge which tapers to form a cutting edge, said blade slidably inserted in said aperture, said blade including: 
 a base,  
 an upper edge opposed to and spaced apart from said base,  
 at least one cutting edge extending along at least a portion of said base wherein said cutting extends beyond, and said blade moveable between two positions with respect to said aperture,  
 a first position with said blade slidably removed from said aperture, and a second inserted position with a portion of said blade slidably inserted in said aperture, said upper edge of said blade along said first edge of said neck, said cutting edge along said second edge of said neck, said cutting edge extends beyond said second edge of said neck, and said blade generally parallel to said longitudinal axis;  
 means for attaching said proximate end to said first end; and,  
 a blade retainer configured to hold said blade in said neck.  
   
     
     
         2 . A utility knife including: 
 a handle configured to pivotally mate with a neck, wherein said neck includes a first edge and a second edge; and    a removable, replaceable blade of uniform thickness with an upper edge and a reduced thickness edge which tapers to form a cutting edge, said blade adapted to mate with the neck such that said upper edge of said blade is along said first edge of said neck, said cutting edge is along said second edge of said neck, and said cutting edge extends beyond said second edge of said neck.    
     
     
         3 . The utility knife of  claim 2 , wherein said neck further includes a blade retainer.  
     
     
         4 . The utility knife of  claim 2 , wherein said neck further includes a securing pin.  
     
     
         5 . The utility knife of  claim 2 , wherein said neck further includes a blade retainer configured to hold the blade in the neck, whereby the blade can be removed from the neck and replaced without disassembly of the handle.  
     
     
         6 . The utility knife of  claim 3 , wherein said blade retainer includes a device which provides pressure against said blade.  
     
     
         7 . The utility knife of  claim 3 , wherein said blade retainer includes a device configured to at least one of mate with an provide pressure against said blade.  
     
     
         8 . The utility knife of  claim 2 , wherein the neck is configured to slidably receive said blade.  
     
     
         9 . The utility knife of  claim 2 , wherein said blade is a trapezoidal blade.  
     
     
         10 . The utility knife of  claim 2 , wherein said handle includes an elongated groove configured to receive at least a portion of said neck.  
     
     
         11 . The utility knife of  claim 2  further including a device configured to maintain the neck in at least one of an open position and a closed position.  
     
     
         12 . The utility knife of  claim 2 , wherein said neck includes a slot for removing said blade from said neck.  
     
     
         13 . The utility knife of  claim 2 , wherein said neck includes a slot to facilitate access to a portion of the blade that is mated with said neck.  
     
     
         14 . The utility knife of  claim 2  further including a finger stop.  
     
     
         15 . The utility knife of  claim 2  wherein said handle further includes at least one of a ring, clip and eyelet.  
     
     
         16 . The utility knife of  claim 2 , wherein the handle is comprised of a first part and a second part such that said first part and said second part are configured to pivot to converge upon the neck in a closed position, and said first part of said second part are configured to align opposite the neck in an open position.  
     
     
         17 . The utility knife of  claim 2  further including a catch device to enable a user to pivot the neck in at least one direction using solely said catch device.  
     
     
         18 . The utility knife of  claim 2  further including a catch device to enable a user to pivot the neck in at least one direction using solely said catch device, wherein said catch device includes at least one of a detent, opening and raised surface in the neck.  
     
     
         19 . The utility knife of  claim 2  wherein said first position includes said blade slidably removed from said aperture without participation from a component of said handle.  
     
     
         20 . The utility knife of  claim 2 , wherein said blade further includes an anchor opening in said blade to facilitate retaining the blade in the blade holder.